by Douglas Robson, USA TODAY Sports

by Douglas Robson, USA TODAY Sports

Sloane Stephens, the second-ranked American female tennis player, has hired Roger Federer's former coach Paul Annacone on a trial basis.

Annacone split with Federer after 3½ years last month and said at the time he had no specific plans. He has been working for a few hours every day with Stephens in Los Angeles, where they both live, according to Tennis.com, which first reported the news.

Stephens' agent, John Tobias, confirmed that the player would train with Annacone for the offseason but there was no commitment beyond that.

Annacone, 50, helped Federer regain the No. 1 ranking last year and guided him to his last major victory at Wimbledon in 2012. The former top-15 pro oversaw player development at both the USTA and Britain's Lawn Tennis Association. He also previously coached Pete Sampras and Tim Henman.

American Annacone has not worked on a solo basis with any top female player.

Stephens enjoyed a meteoric rise in 2013 based on her strong results at the four Grand Slam tournaments, including a semifinal showing at the Australian Open where she toppled No. 1 Serena Williams.

The 20-year-old is currently ranked No. 12. She is the youngest player in the top 30.

Stephens had been working with USTA coach David Nainkin for more than a year. Nainkin split coaching duties between Stephens and fellow American Sam Querrey.

Tobias wrote in an email that the arrangement with Nainkin "ran its course like most coach/player situations" and that Stephens was excited to be working with Annacone for the next few weeks.

Stephens begins her 2014 season in late December at the Hopman Cup in Perth and then is scheduled to play her first tournament at Sydney. She then heads to the Australian Open in Melbourne, where she had her breakout tournament a year ago.